I had three outings in 4 days, and even if I pushed the hardest tonight, I feel as if I could have gone for quite a few Ks more. Excellent!
It started Friday morning with a last recce of Sunday's KFMH3 trail. When I had first went there the previous Sunday, it had become apparent that my original plan was too long. The remedy to this was to turn it into an A-to-B course and doing it the other way around. Friday's run allowed me to find a good route to enter the mountain trail, and make sure that once I was on trail, I could recognize it easily. As experience hikers and trailrunners will tell you, a trail going one way looks quite different going the other way. It took me about 75 minutes to complete it, including a 5-minute break at a nice lookout point to enjoy a rice ball (my favorite on-course snack; fills you up, gives you energy, but doesn't feel heavy on the stomach). After the run I bought some tofu at the supermarket and ate some on the train; people were looking at me pretty funnily!
Then on Sunday was the day of the actual KFMH3 run. I walked the whole course, something I sort of needed to do as I started with almost 5kg of flour with me. I needed this much as virgins (newbies) were coming and rain was forecast for the afternoon. I had to change the course slightly in the beginning as the area was celebrating a shrine's fall festival. Near the end, I realized that a self-righteous citizen was probably going to erase some markings, so I warned the pack about it. Everyone enjoyed the course, even the people complaining that it was a little hard and whose muscles were hurting. With a waterfall, two temples, many lookouts and the site of a former castle, I guess it shouldn't be too surprising.
Then tonight I ran back home. I took a modified Yodo riverbank course, jogging up and down the dikes & pedestrian overpasses and taking a small detour, scouting for a future KFMH3 trail. I started at a good pace and never let down. Even with all the up and downhills on stairs, I felt good running the whole time. With about 2 kilometers to go, I even decided to increase the tempo pretty significantly, going as far as sprinting the last 20-30 meters or so. Arriving at Kugahashi shrine, my goal, I felt great at my accomplishment. Not only did I do more than usual, with all the up and downs and detour, but also I ran faster, putting on the turbo at the end.
It small things like this that are interesting with regular jogging, or any other exercise; sometimes you go beyond your usual limits without straining anything, and you know that you could actually have done even more. Knowing that your full potential is not yet realized is an exciting feeling, something to look forward to.
2010/10/25
2010/10/12
H3 Weekend
Four days. Five runs (well, 4 and an unnameable 1/2). Over 40 kilometers mostly on mountains trails. A few (OK more than a few) beers along the way. And yes, my legs are hurting, although I really think that it was walking back with my heavy bag that made the most damage to my ankles. In other word, a great time at the Nagoya H3 Nash Hash.
It started with a small run (in my case) in downtown Nagoya. I opted for the shorter 2km trail as Wednesday I twisted my knee doing a handstand before a class. I therefore ran the whole weekend with either a knee brace or my jogging tights. My knee felt better and better along the way, which does not surprise me too much based on similar past injuries. I'll take it a little easy for the next week or so, but luckily these injuries, which are twists, don't really affect my running.
Coming back to Friday evening, the run was finished sooner than later, and we then retreated to an izakaya for some food and drinks. It was great to meet friends from all over Japan again, as we usually see each other only once a year at this event. There were quite a few people and as you can, things got embarrassing for some.
The next day we made our way to Okazaki where the main event was held. It was raining and quite windy, but it didn't stop me and others to join a welcome 8km run mostly on trails. I had tried to lead a pack on the trail before, but had gotten lost along the way. Luckily, I wasn't the hare (the person who lays the trail) this time, so most people made it safe back without any problems. In the long part of the trail, we climbed a trail in the middle of a pine forest. With the dark rainy and foggy skies, the atmosphere was a little spooky, and it felt as if ninjas would jump down from the trees to ambush us!
After a nice hot bath and decent dinner, we ran the welcoming circle and other libations. The highlight was the surprise Hash Wedding for two Tokyo members. Some people got the groom to perform his mime antics while others took his bride away and put her in a wedding dress. She came in the room as he finished his skit, and a big uproar erupted. The vows were pretty funny. After the end of the circle, exhausted, I quickly got back to my room, knowing that the next day would be a full one.
And the next day was full indeed. It started with a 6:30 wake-up. After an OK breakfast the hares for the day's run split into groups to lay their respective trails. The early morning was very foggy, but as we headed out, the weather cleared and we were blessed with wonderful conditions. I laid the second half of the ballbreaker trail. As we were carrying kilos of flour and toilet paper rolls (for the really bushy parts), we didn't run at all. It proved quite interesting, especially since I spent most of the time with a member I knew little about, the boyfriend of someone I know well. You can see him on the following, just after we exited the really shiggy part.
We finished just in time for lunch, which consisted in Japanese curry and rice. Not too long after lunch, it was time to actually set out on trail. I opted to do the full ballbreaker, to act out as a middle sweep (someone who makes sure people don't get lost). This meant that I would jog at my regular slowish pace. In all, the trail was about 16km, with two long down and ups. Sadly, my camera had some technical glitches and I could only take pictures in the beginning. I left the first water stop quickly, and going down the second down, I ended in a group with whom I completed the trail. After the down, they stopped jogging and so did I since it was sort of my responsibility to do so. I pointed some interesting artifacts and stories on course, and the conversation was always pleasant.
It started with a small run (in my case) in downtown Nagoya. I opted for the shorter 2km trail as Wednesday I twisted my knee doing a handstand before a class. I therefore ran the whole weekend with either a knee brace or my jogging tights. My knee felt better and better along the way, which does not surprise me too much based on similar past injuries. I'll take it a little easy for the next week or so, but luckily these injuries, which are twists, don't really affect my running.
Coming back to Friday evening, the run was finished sooner than later, and we then retreated to an izakaya for some food and drinks. It was great to meet friends from all over Japan again, as we usually see each other only once a year at this event. There were quite a few people and as you can, things got embarrassing for some.
The next day we made our way to Okazaki where the main event was held. It was raining and quite windy, but it didn't stop me and others to join a welcome 8km run mostly on trails. I had tried to lead a pack on the trail before, but had gotten lost along the way. Luckily, I wasn't the hare (the person who lays the trail) this time, so most people made it safe back without any problems. In the long part of the trail, we climbed a trail in the middle of a pine forest. With the dark rainy and foggy skies, the atmosphere was a little spooky, and it felt as if ninjas would jump down from the trees to ambush us!
After a nice hot bath and decent dinner, we ran the welcoming circle and other libations. The highlight was the surprise Hash Wedding for two Tokyo members. Some people got the groom to perform his mime antics while others took his bride away and put her in a wedding dress. She came in the room as he finished his skit, and a big uproar erupted. The vows were pretty funny. After the end of the circle, exhausted, I quickly got back to my room, knowing that the next day would be a full one.
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| About 120 people gathered from kennels all over Japan |
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| The beautiful couple |
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| Things got blurry before I headed back to sleep |
We finished just in time for lunch, which consisted in Japanese curry and rice. Not too long after lunch, it was time to actually set out on trail. I opted to do the full ballbreaker, to act out as a middle sweep (someone who makes sure people don't get lost). This meant that I would jog at my regular slowish pace. In all, the trail was about 16km, with two long down and ups. Sadly, my camera had some technical glitches and I could only take pictures in the beginning. I left the first water stop quickly, and going down the second down, I ended in a group with whom I completed the trail. After the down, they stopped jogging and so did I since it was sort of my responsibility to do so. I pointed some interesting artifacts and stories on course, and the conversation was always pleasant.
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| Run down the hill... |
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| Some got creative with the course |
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| The course itself was pretty creative |
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| The view from the dam |
As the day before, after getting back people got washed, we had dinner, and then we headed to a nearby lookout for an outdoor circle. Again some members had a Hash Wedding, and lucky for them, as you can see on the picture, Hulk Hogan made it! After some fireworks and contest of all descriptions, we retreated back indoors to have fun the comfort of a party room that also had a karaoke machine. The party lasted well into the little hours of the morning, and this time I stayed up a little later than the previous evening.
The next morning I joined a 10km run down to the mountain to the site of the departing party. I ended up with a group of walkers, and again the conversation was nice. Since we walked we arrived too late for the actual final run, but hot as it was, I'm not sure if I would have wanted to join anyways. Thank yous and goodbyes were exchanged and it was time to head back to Osaka, after a quick late lunch of miso katsu (deepfried pork filet with a Nagoya-style miso sauce). We then got on the bullet train and not too long after, I was in the comfort of my futon, where I had a pretty restful night.
Thank you to everyone present over the weekend, especially the Nagoya H3 organizers who produced a fantastic event for all of us. Kudos.
2010/10/05
Time to Switch into High Gear
Last Monday I jogged again from work, and while a back ago the distance was a little long for me, now it is quite easy to complete. I guess this means that it is time for me to run longer, at a stronger pace and to venture onto trails. And lucky for me, next weekend is the NH3 Nash Hash, where I can run on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday! I may not run so much on Sunday as I will lay the course in the morning, but depending on my feeling, I might go on the 'ballbreaker' trail which is about 15km with two big down-and-ups.
This increased stamina certainly helped last night when I went to the Manu Chao concert at club Quattro, Osaka. I was right at front, jumping, screaming, sweating, moshing like everyone around me. Truly one of the best shows I've been to! I shot a few shots during the concert, you can see them here.
This increased stamina certainly helped last night when I went to the Manu Chao concert at club Quattro, Osaka. I was right at front, jumping, screaming, sweating, moshing like everyone around me. Truly one of the best shows I've been to! I shot a few shots during the concert, you can see them here.
2010/10/02
Stamina Jog
I went for a jog today, and I call it a stamina jog since I had a good run two days ago, went to my capoeira lesson last night (a lot of fun, with our contra mestre's birthday; I got him good when he went a little too soft on me with a scorpion kick) followed by some intense bicycle riding back home. Today my legs did feel a l little sore, but after spending a few hours editing my first ever commercial, I felt I needed to go out for a bit of exercise. I did a short jog, just under 5k mostly on grass with my trailrunners on my feet.
Instead of jogging the last few hundred meters, I did a little bit of capoeira, working on my meia lua and forearm equilibrium. This week has surprised me in that even if in the past weeks, months to be honest, I haven't been exercising so much. Thursday on a longish run I felt good, last night's lesson didn't tire me out as in other times, and I even went jogging this afternoon, training for three days straight. Hopefully I'll keep it up and get in better shape.
I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but this week I started doing 10 push ups randomly during the day (let's go for another set). I do it for capoeira, and elite runners would avoid it to keep their upper body mass low, but I jog for health and peace of mind, and strong arm do help with some of my favorite moves in capoeira, mainly handstands and equilibriums. Next step are sit-ups and crunches, that would definitely help keep my weight down and my center of gravity... centered!
Instead of jogging the last few hundred meters, I did a little bit of capoeira, working on my meia lua and forearm equilibrium. This week has surprised me in that even if in the past weeks, months to be honest, I haven't been exercising so much. Thursday on a longish run I felt good, last night's lesson didn't tire me out as in other times, and I even went jogging this afternoon, training for three days straight. Hopefully I'll keep it up and get in better shape.
I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but this week I started doing 10 push ups randomly during the day (let's go for another set). I do it for capoeira, and elite runners would avoid it to keep their upper body mass low, but I jog for health and peace of mind, and strong arm do help with some of my favorite moves in capoeira, mainly handstands and equilibriums. Next step are sit-ups and crunches, that would definitely help keep my weight down and my center of gravity... centered!
2010/09/30
Training R n (my keyboard is acting funny)
I ran back home tonight. As I mentioned before, evening runs are some of my favorite, as it allows me to zone out from my usual routine. There were times during the run when I really felt 'in the zone', in tune with the environment, unconcerned yet aware of all outside occurrences. Of course it happened on the straightest part of the course, where no dog, no car, no drunken salaryman could bother me. I wouldn't call it a runner's high, which is more physical; I guess it was like meditation, which I have no real experience of.
I took a slightly modified 'dog' course tonight, going up and down the dikes to build up some muscle power for all the ups and downs of the Kyoto mountain race. I kept a good pace for most of the course, and felt good until I stopped for some post-run protein. Walking in the supermarket, my legs seemed to sort of give up, but I didn't really pay attention to it, focused on finding some good looking tofu (this one was called okasan)! As I got out and started jogging again (by then I was in my cool down section), I was quite hard to go forward, my legs having cooled down too much and outside temperature feeling a little cold. But with my December goal in mind, I trudged on until the local shrine, trying to fudge the pain away.
Post run, I did a fair amount of stretching, especially for my Achilles tendons as my ankles hurt me a bit in the last part of the run; I think this was due to some jogging along a horizontally inclined slope, putting more stress on my left leg. The stretching felt great, and I did some focused towards running, some for capoeira, my favorite cross training. After a shower, I had the tofu with some Thai dressing and whole bunch of vegetables (I probably splurged on the celery a little too late).
All in all, it was great outing. I ran at a pretty good pace; I did some extra training by going up and down the dikes 4 or 5 times; and the extra stretching will pay off in the medium-long term. Your turn now, go a little beyond your usual distance/effort during your next training.
I took a slightly modified 'dog' course tonight, going up and down the dikes to build up some muscle power for all the ups and downs of the Kyoto mountain race. I kept a good pace for most of the course, and felt good until I stopped for some post-run protein. Walking in the supermarket, my legs seemed to sort of give up, but I didn't really pay attention to it, focused on finding some good looking tofu (this one was called okasan)! As I got out and started jogging again (by then I was in my cool down section), I was quite hard to go forward, my legs having cooled down too much and outside temperature feeling a little cold. But with my December goal in mind, I trudged on until the local shrine, trying to fudge the pain away.
Post run, I did a fair amount of stretching, especially for my Achilles tendons as my ankles hurt me a bit in the last part of the run; I think this was due to some jogging along a horizontally inclined slope, putting more stress on my left leg. The stretching felt great, and I did some focused towards running, some for capoeira, my favorite cross training. After a shower, I had the tofu with some Thai dressing and whole bunch of vegetables (I probably splurged on the celery a little too late).
All in all, it was great outing. I ran at a pretty good pace; I did some extra training by going up and down the dikes 4 or 5 times; and the extra stretching will pay off in the medium-long term. Your turn now, go a little beyond your usual distance/effort during your next training.
2010/09/26
Today is a Hashing Day
We had a great r*n with the KFMH3 today. I say r*n because early one, I decided that it would be a good occasion to do some speed training for the Kyoto Mountain race. And since we were in the countryside, it made my efforts all that much easier. Field after field, traditional home after traditional home, riverside after riverside, my train fare investment were much more than compensated.
Running faster than usual, even with little training recently, felt great. Hopefully I can keep it up and break my not so great personal time. But I'm getting ahead of me, it is much too early to even think about that. I leave you with some shots snapped along the course.
Running faster than usual, even with little training recently, felt great. Hopefully I can keep it up and break my not so great personal time. But I'm getting ahead of me, it is much too early to even think about that. I leave you with some shots snapped along the course.
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| Rice drying after harvest. |
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| I liked the wood here. |
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| Me an my main man, Doreamon! |
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| Who lives here, seriously! |
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| Having fun at the Moon Check. |
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| At the KFMH3, we don't just run for the beer at the end... |
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| As kids, my brother and I dreamed of a house were everything we'd want was only a push of a button away; Japan is on the right track. |
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| Our host's home will basically be torn down and rebuilt next year; I hope they keep these great sliding doors. |
2010/09/23
Run To See This
As some of you know, amongst my many jobs, I help the Osaka European Film Festival, taking pictures, entertaining foreign guests and so on. This year, I'm also in charge of writing the movie resumes in English, meaning that I get to see all the movies before everyone. Life is hard, isn't it?
The last one I watched is The Robber (Der Rauber), a German-Austrian coproduction. It tells the true story of Johann Rettenberger, a.k.a Pump-Gun Ronnie, a bank robber who also won several races, including the Vienna marathon! To say the least, the police have a hard catching him! It's a good movie for all of us joggers/runners, and anyone else who enjoys crime stories and great cinema. It was also featured at the New York Film Festival recently, so there is a chance it will available in some select theaters in North America. As for Japan, you only chance to see it might be at the OEFF, so don't miss your chance when it comes around in November.
The last one I watched is The Robber (Der Rauber), a German-Austrian coproduction. It tells the true story of Johann Rettenberger, a.k.a Pump-Gun Ronnie, a bank robber who also won several races, including the Vienna marathon! To say the least, the police have a hard catching him! It's a good movie for all of us joggers/runners, and anyone else who enjoys crime stories and great cinema. It was also featured at the New York Film Festival recently, so there is a chance it will available in some select theaters in North America. As for Japan, you only chance to see it might be at the OEFF, so don't miss your chance when it comes around in November.
2010/09/05
Bad, Then Good
Last Thursday was one of the lowest point in my jogging endeavors. I try once a week to jog home from work, a distance of 12-15 km depending on the route I take. And for the first time ever, I could not finish last week. I did walk the rest of the way, but my legs just wouldn't jog. There was total refusal on my body to go on jogging. It was quite frustrating as I felt sort of OK, my legs didn't hurt or anything, they just wouldn't jog. I'm at a loss to explain it. I think it could be due to the fact the during the day, I was drinking lightly apple-vinegared water. But three months away from the Sanjurokumine mountain race, it wasn't something I expected.
So it was apprehensively that I made my way to the KFMH3 run yesterday. The weather was pretty hot, I knew the course wouldn't be short, since returnee Wanda was the hare. We had two visitors from the Tokyo area, In Your Dreams and Where's the Beef. They were visiting Kyoto and came for our run. It's always fun to have visitors from other kennels come to our outings. And as expected, the course wasn't so short, but I did manage to jog the whole course, often going longer at different check points. The moon check was in a park, which luckily had a water fountain, although the water was pretty tepid.
But as previously mentioned, the biggest satisfaction was being able to finish the course jogging. Hopefully last Thursday was just a fluke, and I look forward to jogging home again, something I'm considering doing tonight.
So it was apprehensively that I made my way to the KFMH3 run yesterday. The weather was pretty hot, I knew the course wouldn't be short, since returnee Wanda was the hare. We had two visitors from the Tokyo area, In Your Dreams and Where's the Beef. They were visiting Kyoto and came for our run. It's always fun to have visitors from other kennels come to our outings. And as expected, the course wasn't so short, but I did manage to jog the whole course, often going longer at different check points. The moon check was in a park, which luckily had a water fountain, although the water was pretty tepid.
But as previously mentioned, the biggest satisfaction was being able to finish the course jogging. Hopefully last Thursday was just a fluke, and I look forward to jogging home again, something I'm considering doing tonight.
2010/08/16
No Dogs This Time
A quick review on two runs I had recently. First, I went for a quick jog last Wednesday. As I was off that day, I set out around 8:30a.m. and took one of my regular course near my place. The distance is about 7km, which under normal circumstances is not a problem. But as I related last time, I haven't been exercising much recently, and it was pretty hot even this early in the morning, so the run was a little tough. But I could finish it without any major setbacks, and it put me in a good and relaxed mood for a interview with a TV director (check www.terophoto.blogspot.com for more info on that).
Then tonight I ran home from work, along the same path where a bunch of worthless canines had tried to intimidate me a few weeks back. When I set off on trail, my legs and body felt unresponsive and I thought the outing would be quite taxing. I kept quite a slow pace in the beginning, but with the music playing in my music player and the nice wind along the Yodo river, soon I was going at it easily. The moment of truth occurred when I decided that this was going to be a stamina session, not a speed or power build-up one. From then, I really felt good, especially after crossing the river when I ran along an unpaved path on top of the dike.
Soon I arrived in the 'danger zone', and I proceeded to take my bottle in one hand and half unhook my backpack in case the flea bags would want to play again. Actually, I think I saw them lazing in the middle of a baseball field, perhaps exhausted from the hot temperatures we had today. In any case, I jogged on through, enjoying the fireworks kids were setting off on the banks of the river.
After going through Juso, I jogged along the main road back to my place. Even when I went up the bridge passing over a train line, my pace did not lessen, and I felt great the whole time. I think I could have easily run another 2-3km tonight, and even pushed for an extra 5 if I would have really wanted it. But the sight of the two Shisha lions at the shrine near my place was more than welcome.
After my shower, I made a tofu and frozen fruit shake. I'll need to work on the recipe, mainly because of the consistency. But it felt nice nonetheless. I think that from now on and until the Sanjurokumine race in December, I'll avoid as much as possible deep fried food. I did put on a few kilos in the past month, possibly due to my cold, but also because of the munchies I've indulged in late at night.
Then tonight I ran home from work, along the same path where a bunch of worthless canines had tried to intimidate me a few weeks back. When I set off on trail, my legs and body felt unresponsive and I thought the outing would be quite taxing. I kept quite a slow pace in the beginning, but with the music playing in my music player and the nice wind along the Yodo river, soon I was going at it easily. The moment of truth occurred when I decided that this was going to be a stamina session, not a speed or power build-up one. From then, I really felt good, especially after crossing the river when I ran along an unpaved path on top of the dike.
Soon I arrived in the 'danger zone', and I proceeded to take my bottle in one hand and half unhook my backpack in case the flea bags would want to play again. Actually, I think I saw them lazing in the middle of a baseball field, perhaps exhausted from the hot temperatures we had today. In any case, I jogged on through, enjoying the fireworks kids were setting off on the banks of the river.
After going through Juso, I jogged along the main road back to my place. Even when I went up the bridge passing over a train line, my pace did not lessen, and I felt great the whole time. I think I could have easily run another 2-3km tonight, and even pushed for an extra 5 if I would have really wanted it. But the sight of the two Shisha lions at the shrine near my place was more than welcome.
After my shower, I made a tofu and frozen fruit shake. I'll need to work on the recipe, mainly because of the consistency. But it felt nice nonetheless. I think that from now on and until the Sanjurokumine race in December, I'll avoid as much as possible deep fried food. I did put on a few kilos in the past month, possibly due to my cold, but also because of the munchies I've indulged in late at night.
2010/08/08
Sorry...
... about the long delay. I'll be completely honest, I haven't run much recently. Most of the runs I did were with the KFMH3. Not that the heat deterred me (well, it did a little), but the constant switch for screeching hot and humid to very air-conditioned atmosphere wreaked havoc on my system this year.
Today we had a run from Hankyu Kawanishi Ikeda and it was excellent. The hare (course designer), Man* ophobia did an outstanding job, and even if the course was a little long (for me at least, and I finished 1st!), it was very entertaining throughout. A few weeks back I scouted and hared for trails for the Nagoya H3 Nash Hash event, and hopefully our runs will be as entertaining (although they'll be more challenging, that's for sure)!
Today we had a run from Hankyu Kawanishi Ikeda and it was excellent. The hare (course designer), Man* ophobia did an outstanding job, and even if the course was a little long (for me at least, and I finished 1st!), it was very entertaining throughout. A few weeks back I scouted and hared for trails for the Nagoya H3 Nash Hash event, and hopefully our runs will be as entertaining (although they'll be more challenging, that's for sure)!
2010/07/08
Jog Report and Program for Beginners
I jogged from work again tonight, although I took a different route. Not because the dogs scare me, but simply because I wanted a shorter route. As an added bonus, I passed across many felines, many of whom stayed in the middle of the path unperturbed even if I jogged less than a meter away. Cats really are smarter than dogs.
By taking tonight course, I cut down 2-3km, and even then, as I didn't exercise much recently, I had to stop to walk a few times. I think it is a direct result of Monday's 'big' run and tonight's higher humidity. But the important part was actually going out there and finishing jogging, so mission accomplished.
For those interested in starting jogging, here is the URL to the program my friend Simon, inspiration for this blog, followed with success. In 9 weeks he went from a couch potato to a couch potato who can run 5km non-stop! (Sorry Simon, it was too easy)
But more seriously, I believe he hadn't exercised since college a number of years ago, so I think it attests to the program's effectiveness. On his Facehook page, I read a comment by a common friend who also used and can now jog 28 minutes non-stop. If you are just starting, I strongly encourage you to try it.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
By taking tonight course, I cut down 2-3km, and even then, as I didn't exercise much recently, I had to stop to walk a few times. I think it is a direct result of Monday's 'big' run and tonight's higher humidity. But the important part was actually going out there and finishing jogging, so mission accomplished.
For those interested in starting jogging, here is the URL to the program my friend Simon, inspiration for this blog, followed with success. In 9 weeks he went from a couch potato to a couch potato who can run 5km non-stop! (Sorry Simon, it was too easy)
But more seriously, I believe he hadn't exercised since college a number of years ago, so I think it attests to the program's effectiveness. On his Facehook page, I read a comment by a common friend who also used and can now jog 28 minutes non-stop. If you are just starting, I strongly encourage you to try it.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
2010/07/06
Encounter With The Canine Kind
I hate dogs. Well, hot dogs aren't that bad, and so are corn dogs, which are actually called 'American Dogs' in Japan.
Last night I jogged home from work, in high humidity although it was not that hot (it was past 8:00p.m. when I set out). It was hard out of the door, and it took me some time to find my pace, but once I did, I felt I was jogging as a slightly faster pace than usual. Crossing the pedestrian bridge over the Yodo river gave me some added impetus, and I felt comfortable by then.
Most of the remaining trail is along the river, which passes next to an approach gold course, some baseball fields and some blue tent (homeless) encampments, many of whom keep dogs. I often see them sitting by the road, just lazing around, while others bark from a distance at times, but except for one encounter while on bicycle a good while ago, they've never seemed dangerous or aggressive.
Until last night.
It's kind of spooky because I remember that approaching the spot where they have been barking recently, I imagined telling them to relax as it was only me, the gaijin jogger who passes from time to time. Maybe by thinking this, I released some pheromones that smelled of fear, but out of the bushes, two or three them came out running and barking.
Of course my first reaction was one of fear, but quickly I remembered that with animals, composure and attitude are everything, and I started barking, too, in French Canadian mind you! I also figured that, like an umbrella being opened (it really works against dogs, ask any mail carrier), my backpack, containing clothes, wallet and water bottle, would work as a good deterrent, or a weapon in the worst case scenario. I unclipped it and swung it over my shoulder, the bottle going out flying, hitting the pavement with a bang. This seemed to have unsettled the leader of the pack, who took a few steps back, encouraged by my continuing raving.
I picked up my bottle, holding both items in separate hands, banging them together and swinging them around. This also gave me the chance to see if I were the only one of my kind around, partly by embarrassment, partly hoping to get better numbers on my side. But by then, the dogs were barking a lot less, showing much more defense than offense. Continuing insulting them in my deepest voice, I started walking away, keeping my most intimidating stance (not very), keeping an eye on them, making sure not to look as if I was running away, even if it were the case. Less than 50 meters away, their barking had stopped, but I was still fuming.
I took a short break, put my bottle in its holder, and started jogging again. I approached a bridge where the Midosuji subway line and a boulevard pass over another homeless grouping. A dog was around, but I guess it had heard the previous encounter, and alone, it didn't even dare make a whimper. By the time I was on the other side of the overpass, there were quite a few people around, and finally I felt completely safe.
I climbed up the dike, and started on the final river stretch all the way to Juso. I started to feel some fatigue, but I really wanted to continue jogging. It didn't prove to be too hard, although as I neared the shrine near my place, the temptation to walk grew stronger. But after the canine encounter and visualizing strongly finishing the Kyoto Sanjuromine 30km mountain race next December, there was no way I was going to stop short.
In the end, my time was average, around 90 minutes, and I did do a bit most stretching than usual, thinking about capoeira. Today my thighs did hurt a little going down stairs, but nothing bad.
Returning to the dog scare, my reaction kind of surprises me. To be honest, if I had thought about such an encounter before, I might not have bet on my side coming out stronger. Except for the first second or so, I never panicked, and quickly took control of the situation. It's the kind of experience out of which you come out stronger, finding inner strength where you doubted you had any. I think that from today on, dogs will intimidate me a lot less. I really understand the expression that their bark is a lot bigger than their bite. We domesticated those lesser wolves, not the other way around. I'd add an derogatory using a term describing female dogs, but I'll keep this decent.
Last night I jogged home from work, in high humidity although it was not that hot (it was past 8:00p.m. when I set out). It was hard out of the door, and it took me some time to find my pace, but once I did, I felt I was jogging as a slightly faster pace than usual. Crossing the pedestrian bridge over the Yodo river gave me some added impetus, and I felt comfortable by then.
Most of the remaining trail is along the river, which passes next to an approach gold course, some baseball fields and some blue tent (homeless) encampments, many of whom keep dogs. I often see them sitting by the road, just lazing around, while others bark from a distance at times, but except for one encounter while on bicycle a good while ago, they've never seemed dangerous or aggressive.
Until last night.
It's kind of spooky because I remember that approaching the spot where they have been barking recently, I imagined telling them to relax as it was only me, the gaijin jogger who passes from time to time. Maybe by thinking this, I released some pheromones that smelled of fear, but out of the bushes, two or three them came out running and barking.
Of course my first reaction was one of fear, but quickly I remembered that with animals, composure and attitude are everything, and I started barking, too, in French Canadian mind you! I also figured that, like an umbrella being opened (it really works against dogs, ask any mail carrier), my backpack, containing clothes, wallet and water bottle, would work as a good deterrent, or a weapon in the worst case scenario. I unclipped it and swung it over my shoulder, the bottle going out flying, hitting the pavement with a bang. This seemed to have unsettled the leader of the pack, who took a few steps back, encouraged by my continuing raving.
I picked up my bottle, holding both items in separate hands, banging them together and swinging them around. This also gave me the chance to see if I were the only one of my kind around, partly by embarrassment, partly hoping to get better numbers on my side. But by then, the dogs were barking a lot less, showing much more defense than offense. Continuing insulting them in my deepest voice, I started walking away, keeping my most intimidating stance (not very), keeping an eye on them, making sure not to look as if I was running away, even if it were the case. Less than 50 meters away, their barking had stopped, but I was still fuming.
I took a short break, put my bottle in its holder, and started jogging again. I approached a bridge where the Midosuji subway line and a boulevard pass over another homeless grouping. A dog was around, but I guess it had heard the previous encounter, and alone, it didn't even dare make a whimper. By the time I was on the other side of the overpass, there were quite a few people around, and finally I felt completely safe.
I climbed up the dike, and started on the final river stretch all the way to Juso. I started to feel some fatigue, but I really wanted to continue jogging. It didn't prove to be too hard, although as I neared the shrine near my place, the temptation to walk grew stronger. But after the canine encounter and visualizing strongly finishing the Kyoto Sanjuromine 30km mountain race next December, there was no way I was going to stop short.
In the end, my time was average, around 90 minutes, and I did do a bit most stretching than usual, thinking about capoeira. Today my thighs did hurt a little going down stairs, but nothing bad.
Returning to the dog scare, my reaction kind of surprises me. To be honest, if I had thought about such an encounter before, I might not have bet on my side coming out stronger. Except for the first second or so, I never panicked, and quickly took control of the situation. It's the kind of experience out of which you come out stronger, finding inner strength where you doubted you had any. I think that from today on, dogs will intimidate me a lot less. I really understand the expression that their bark is a lot bigger than their bite. We domesticated those lesser wolves, not the other way around. I'd add an derogatory using a term describing female dogs, but I'll keep this decent.
2010/06/14
Rainy Season: So What?
Yesterday was the official start of the rainy season in the Kansai area. Apparently it was almost a week late, although it does not feel like it. I was originally supposed to go paragliding, but the bad weather predictions trumped that plan. Luckily for me, I had a good B plan, a *un with the KFMH3. The HHH runs through sunny, rainy, snowy and trembling conditions. Actually, I've been trying to start the FOKT H3 (Fanatical Osaka Kobe Typhoon H3) for some time, but 'good' weather has prevented me from doing so.
It was pretty rainy, and as the hares had laid trail with chalk alone in the morning, they had to accompany us on the trot to show us the way. At times a little bit of pink chalk was visible, and it would have been impossible to follow trail had they left us on our own. Starting from Kawaramachi in Kyoto, we followed the Kamo river for a few hundred meters, before heading east towards the hills. We jogged along the Heian shrine moat, before going through Nanzen temple, ran down a boulevard, turned left to a street passing some famous temples, before going through Yasaka shrine to the finish.
Anpanman*o led the way, at a faster pace in the beginning as what I'm used to for warming up. But knowing that the trail wouldn't be too long, it wasn't to hard for me to follow. All in all, it was a pretty course, similar to what I had hared a year ago but in the opposite direction. The trail out of Nanzen temple was quite different, though, and I will need to visit it again for some pictures in the future. I leave you with a shot I took from the train going to Kyoto.
It was pretty rainy, and as the hares had laid trail with chalk alone in the morning, they had to accompany us on the trot to show us the way. At times a little bit of pink chalk was visible, and it would have been impossible to follow trail had they left us on our own. Starting from Kawaramachi in Kyoto, we followed the Kamo river for a few hundred meters, before heading east towards the hills. We jogged along the Heian shrine moat, before going through Nanzen temple, ran down a boulevard, turned left to a street passing some famous temples, before going through Yasaka shrine to the finish.
Anpanman*o led the way, at a faster pace in the beginning as what I'm used to for warming up. But knowing that the trail wouldn't be too long, it wasn't to hard for me to follow. All in all, it was a pretty course, similar to what I had hared a year ago but in the opposite direction. The trail out of Nanzen temple was quite different, though, and I will need to visit it again for some pictures in the future. I leave you with a shot I took from the train going to Kyoto.
2010/06/05
Not Hurting
I woke up this morning and my leg was still hurting a little. But I wanted to know if it would affect my jogging, and I'm glad to say that it didn't. I jogged a shortish course, about 6.5 km, one where I get to greet a centenarian rooted friend and go along a few rivers and canals. My legs felt fine, although my right knee felt a little strange at times and by the end of the course, a toe was rubbing wrongly in my sock, and it resulted in a small blister.
But truth be told, I was jogging in old socks that don't really fit anymore. You know I preach that the only equipment required for a jog is a pair of shoes, but I realized that maladjusted socks can be little pain as well. That being said, recent regular sport socks do just the trick, this particular pair was just a little too old. Otherwise, I was wearing cheap sport shorts from Uniqlo (a Japanese store similar to the Gap) and my t-shirt proudly bearing the Terminator Stout logo (scroll down).
It was pretty hot, and even if I had drunk some water before, thirst did hit me. Nearing the end, after smiling to an old man he gave some encouragement, to which I replied with a heartfelt 'gambarimasu' (Keep on going, I will do my best; really it's hard to translate as it is used in so many situations). But the good sounds of Lorena C and Goma da Didgeridoo kept me going until I reached the shrine near my home. All in all, a good morning jog, and I feel ready for my wedding anniversary date!
But truth be told, I was jogging in old socks that don't really fit anymore. You know I preach that the only equipment required for a jog is a pair of shoes, but I realized that maladjusted socks can be little pain as well. That being said, recent regular sport socks do just the trick, this particular pair was just a little too old. Otherwise, I was wearing cheap sport shorts from Uniqlo (a Japanese store similar to the Gap) and my t-shirt proudly bearing the Terminator Stout logo (scroll down).
It was pretty hot, and even if I had drunk some water before, thirst did hit me. Nearing the end, after smiling to an old man he gave some encouragement, to which I replied with a heartfelt 'gambarimasu' (Keep on going, I will do my best; really it's hard to translate as it is used in so many situations). But the good sounds of Lorena C and Goma da Didgeridoo kept me going until I reached the shrine near my home. All in all, a good morning jog, and I feel ready for my wedding anniversary date!
Hurting
I went for a short morning jog last Thursday. My short is 6km. I actually jogged a trail I hadn't done in some time. It's one of my 'training' course that can easily be extended to 10k when I feel or need to. I forgot to have a drink before setting out and I did feel thirsty along he way. But it was not much of an issue and I could finish without struggle.
But starting last Monday and continuing last night Friday, capoeira has been hurting my left leg, just under the left knee. It's not a muscle, I think, and I'm no expert to say what it is, but all the genuflexions we did this week have got my tendon (or whatever it is) hurting. Good news is that pain is weakness leaving the body, and from this minor injury, my legs are going to come out stronger, but it's not a great feeling.
In any case, I'm planning to go for another morning jog tomorrow morning, just because I feel I should. I wouldn't do capoeira tomorrow, but I feel that my shoes need a workout.
But starting last Monday and continuing last night Friday, capoeira has been hurting my left leg, just under the left knee. It's not a muscle, I think, and I'm no expert to say what it is, but all the genuflexions we did this week have got my tendon (or whatever it is) hurting. Good news is that pain is weakness leaving the body, and from this minor injury, my legs are going to come out stronger, but it's not a great feeling.
In any case, I'm planning to go for another morning jog tomorrow morning, just because I feel I should. I wouldn't do capoeira tomorrow, but I feel that my shoes need a workout.
2010/05/27
Some Strides are Better than Others
I'm not a professional runner, not even an amateur one. I'm just a guy who likes to jog to keep fit, and once in a while join a race to push my limits a little more. I have received no counseling on how to improve my running, except to try to go further and faster. This is especially true when it comes to my stride, which must be horrible. I run as I see fit, as I feel I should, and so far it has served me well and I can't complain.
Well, that's not entirely true. Sometimes I do feel that something is wrong, without being able to put the nail on it. It happened tonight as I was jogging home from work (again, a longish outing). For the first 40 minutes or so (out of 90 in the end), I couldn't find my rhythm. Usually, within 20-30 minute, I find the pace I feel comfortable for the day, and the rest of the jog is basically a breeze. But not tonight. For some reason, I had a hard time finding my breath and pace, and couldn't understand why. I hypothesized that it was due to all the barley tea I have been drinking recently, which somehow made me feel uncomfortable.
Then, after 40 minutes, after stopping for a quick pee, I realized that I was running with my lower legs, not my upper legs. From that point, I started taking longer strides, even longer than usual, and in no time I was running at a faster pace than usual, without really feeling exhausted. That was really an awakening, and I kept a healthy pace for the next 40 minutes. By then, I started to feel some pain in my upper thighs, as I was using muscles in a way they weren't used to. But I kept on going, knowing that my goal, the shrine nearby my place, wasn't far off.
I felt (and still do) quite tired after the run, but also happy to have discovered a stride that may be more efficient for me. I encourage you to try different strides once you are more comfortable with your jogging, you may find that one style is better suited for you. In general, longer strides require more energy, but end up being more efficient since you cover a longer distance with each step. Also, try not to lift your leg too much, as you spend energy lifting your legs.
Well, that's not entirely true. Sometimes I do feel that something is wrong, without being able to put the nail on it. It happened tonight as I was jogging home from work (again, a longish outing). For the first 40 minutes or so (out of 90 in the end), I couldn't find my rhythm. Usually, within 20-30 minute, I find the pace I feel comfortable for the day, and the rest of the jog is basically a breeze. But not tonight. For some reason, I had a hard time finding my breath and pace, and couldn't understand why. I hypothesized that it was due to all the barley tea I have been drinking recently, which somehow made me feel uncomfortable.
Then, after 40 minutes, after stopping for a quick pee, I realized that I was running with my lower legs, not my upper legs. From that point, I started taking longer strides, even longer than usual, and in no time I was running at a faster pace than usual, without really feeling exhausted. That was really an awakening, and I kept a healthy pace for the next 40 minutes. By then, I started to feel some pain in my upper thighs, as I was using muscles in a way they weren't used to. But I kept on going, knowing that my goal, the shrine nearby my place, wasn't far off.
I felt (and still do) quite tired after the run, but also happy to have discovered a stride that may be more efficient for me. I encourage you to try different strides once you are more comfortable with your jogging, you may find that one style is better suited for you. In general, longer strides require more energy, but end up being more efficient since you cover a longer distance with each step. Also, try not to lift your leg too much, as you spend energy lifting your legs.
2010/05/26
Jogging Home
Finding the time to go jogging is often the main hurdle all of us face. One of the obvious solution is to wake up early to go out there, but speaking from experience, it can be hard to find the motivation. However, as I've mentioned before, I often then feel much energized for the rest of the day when I do get up early, but that's another topic.
Another option is to run after our regular day, which has the great benefit of relieving some stress. But instead of waiting to return home before heading out for the jog, why not run home from work? It needs some preparation, perhaps leaving your work clothes in a bag to pick up the next day.
Use Goohoo maps or any other service to find the best course, print it if you need to, and then it's time to hit the road. When I plan my runs from maps, I usually try to find places of relative interests, like riversides, parks and so on to make the best route. When I get used to the course, I often diverge from it just to spice things up; you never know when you'll find something interesting like a good gyouza place, a cool record store or a bar to go to in the future.
I ran home last Wednesday and it was a hard one. For one, the distance is fairly long, over 10k. Also, it was raining that day, not that it bothers me much (although it was very humid, that did slow me down). But mostly, I had been exercising hard the previous days (intense capoeira on Saturday and Monday, HHH run on Sunday) and my legs were feeling it. At times it was a challenge to go on, but I'm proud to say that never did I even consider abandoning.
I guess this is the main thing I have acquired through regular jogging, it's the resolve to go the distance, just like poker players learning to go all-in. This is something that has also benefitted me in other areas of my life. Following a program and going through with it can be very difficult, but especially satisfying when we succeed. And because of this, my hat goes off to the coolest guy ever, the inspiration for this blog, Simon. He went from basically never exercising to jogging 28 minutes non-stop. Great job.
Another option is to run after our regular day, which has the great benefit of relieving some stress. But instead of waiting to return home before heading out for the jog, why not run home from work? It needs some preparation, perhaps leaving your work clothes in a bag to pick up the next day.
Use Goohoo maps or any other service to find the best course, print it if you need to, and then it's time to hit the road. When I plan my runs from maps, I usually try to find places of relative interests, like riversides, parks and so on to make the best route. When I get used to the course, I often diverge from it just to spice things up; you never know when you'll find something interesting like a good gyouza place, a cool record store or a bar to go to in the future.
I ran home last Wednesday and it was a hard one. For one, the distance is fairly long, over 10k. Also, it was raining that day, not that it bothers me much (although it was very humid, that did slow me down). But mostly, I had been exercising hard the previous days (intense capoeira on Saturday and Monday, HHH run on Sunday) and my legs were feeling it. At times it was a challenge to go on, but I'm proud to say that never did I even consider abandoning.
I guess this is the main thing I have acquired through regular jogging, it's the resolve to go the distance, just like poker players learning to go all-in. This is something that has also benefitted me in other areas of my life. Following a program and going through with it can be very difficult, but especially satisfying when we succeed. And because of this, my hat goes off to the coolest guy ever, the inspiration for this blog, Simon. He went from basically never exercising to jogging 28 minutes non-stop. Great job.
2010/05/18
Some Running Outings and Big Announcement
Sorry for not writing more often recently. First my mom visited and that slowed down my jogging and my blogging even more. Since my last entry, if my memory serves me well, I have only been jogging twice, and those were all HHH runs.
The first was near Tokyo with the Samurai HHH, and one of my friend was the hare. The course went through some large parks in the Machida area and was very nice. I jogged the whole thing with another friend, Miss Bean, and we spent the trail catching up on events. She was recovering from a bad cold while I had not run in some time due to my aforementioned family trip (and I had not been eating/drinking very healthily, not that I often do)! But that didn't stop us from jogging the about 8k of the course. Following, we had a nice circle in a park, and my legs felt fine the next day for my capoeira lesson.
Then, last Sunday my wife hared a KFMH3 run in Umeda. The course was very interesting as she linked many places we had been to before in an interesting way. The second check really slowed us down, but then that's the purpose. The trail also went to some places we had never been too, including through a under-train-tracks tunnel and a big park by some big apartment complexes. We came back to the start, had some post-trail refreshment. At the circle, I made the big announcement, that my wife is pregnant with our first child.
Rain is called for the next two days, but I am considering going jogging regardless, probably after w*rk tomorrow evening. After all, rain is only an early post-run shower, especially when the mercury is in the 20s, Celsius, that is.
The first was near Tokyo with the Samurai HHH, and one of my friend was the hare. The course went through some large parks in the Machida area and was very nice. I jogged the whole thing with another friend, Miss Bean, and we spent the trail catching up on events. She was recovering from a bad cold while I had not run in some time due to my aforementioned family trip (and I had not been eating/drinking very healthily, not that I often do)! But that didn't stop us from jogging the about 8k of the course. Following, we had a nice circle in a park, and my legs felt fine the next day for my capoeira lesson.
Then, last Sunday my wife hared a KFMH3 run in Umeda. The course was very interesting as she linked many places we had been to before in an interesting way. The second check really slowed us down, but then that's the purpose. The trail also went to some places we had never been too, including through a under-train-tracks tunnel and a big park by some big apartment complexes. We came back to the start, had some post-trail refreshment. At the circle, I made the big announcement, that my wife is pregnant with our first child.
Rain is called for the next two days, but I am considering going jogging regardless, probably after w*rk tomorrow evening. After all, rain is only an early post-run shower, especially when the mercury is in the 20s, Celsius, that is.
2010/04/26
2010/04/21
One (more) Reason to Go Jogging
Last Monday I had a photo shoot with Diane Orrett for Kansai Scene magazine (follow the link for more information). It was the first time I had an assignment like this lined up (mind you, I have officially shot events, but never portraits) and I guess I felt a little more nervous than I thought since I woke up at 4:30 and could not fall asleep again. After an hour of tergiversations, I got out of bed, put on sweat pants and a fleece, and went for a run.
I use the word run here because from the beginning, I intended this outing to be a stress reliever, and thus I ran at a fast pace, for me, right from the start. Never underestimate the power of jogging/running to relief stress. I guess it must work with other forms of exercise, but when you decide to exert your body, it tends to relax your mind somehow, or at least to make you forget about other stuff. Yes, it is escapism, but in a healthy way.
Right out the building, I picked a fast pace that I kept for a while. After about a kilometer, it became it a little hard to keep up that pace, but I kept at it. And at almost exactly the 2km mark (and I know thanks to mapmyrun.com), I saw the Sun pierce through the cloud cover and the canopy of cherry blossom trees (almost no more flowers), and I heard an internal voice telling me that everything would be fine. I know it sound pretty metaphysical, but I deeply believed that thought and knew things would be alright. Not long after, I reached a temple where I like to meet a centenarian rooted friend, paused for greetings, and continued on my run.
Having started at such a pace, of course I had slow down later in the run, down to my usual if not slower pace. But that was not important at all. What counted was that through physical exercise, I had calmed my soul, and then felt much more prepared for what was ahead. And the photo shoot did go well. Not perfect, of course, there are still heaps of things I need keep in mind and to learn. But I got there much more relaxed and I'm sure it had an impact on the final results. I got an email from the magazine's graphic designer tonight saying that the shots were very good, my own self-criticism notwithstanding.
Of course I can only talk from personal experience, but I really believe that physical exercise can relief stress (there are numerous studies out there that validate my opinion, but reading and experimenting are two different things). I feel that jogging is the best exercise in this case for two reasons: first you can go jogging pretty much any time and anywhere.
Secondly, perhaps on a more profound level, jogging is what humans have been doing for aeons. Jogging is what allowed us to either evade or hunt stronger and faster animals. We are enduring and persistent. How many animals can jog more than 10 kilometers (some of us, not me, can do it for a few hundreds)? There is something primordial about jogging, I think, that is deeply rooted in our entity. When we are out there pounding the ground, while consciousness is focusing on a purely physical endeavor, our reptilian brains take over, allowing our 'superior' neural networks to relax and attain a desired equilibrium, not unlike Archimedes when he took his legendary bath and shouted 'Eureka' (I don't care for baths personally, although Japanese hot springs are pretty nice).
Of course, on most days when I head out the door for jogging, I am mainly concerned about my physical health. But always remember that jogging will also benefit your psyche. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be healthy in the mind than in the body, and jogging takes care of both, so to me, it is the perfect friend to my desired long and healthy life.
I use the word run here because from the beginning, I intended this outing to be a stress reliever, and thus I ran at a fast pace, for me, right from the start. Never underestimate the power of jogging/running to relief stress. I guess it must work with other forms of exercise, but when you decide to exert your body, it tends to relax your mind somehow, or at least to make you forget about other stuff. Yes, it is escapism, but in a healthy way.
Right out the building, I picked a fast pace that I kept for a while. After about a kilometer, it became it a little hard to keep up that pace, but I kept at it. And at almost exactly the 2km mark (and I know thanks to mapmyrun.com), I saw the Sun pierce through the cloud cover and the canopy of cherry blossom trees (almost no more flowers), and I heard an internal voice telling me that everything would be fine. I know it sound pretty metaphysical, but I deeply believed that thought and knew things would be alright. Not long after, I reached a temple where I like to meet a centenarian rooted friend, paused for greetings, and continued on my run.
Having started at such a pace, of course I had slow down later in the run, down to my usual if not slower pace. But that was not important at all. What counted was that through physical exercise, I had calmed my soul, and then felt much more prepared for what was ahead. And the photo shoot did go well. Not perfect, of course, there are still heaps of things I need keep in mind and to learn. But I got there much more relaxed and I'm sure it had an impact on the final results. I got an email from the magazine's graphic designer tonight saying that the shots were very good, my own self-criticism notwithstanding.
Of course I can only talk from personal experience, but I really believe that physical exercise can relief stress (there are numerous studies out there that validate my opinion, but reading and experimenting are two different things). I feel that jogging is the best exercise in this case for two reasons: first you can go jogging pretty much any time and anywhere.
Secondly, perhaps on a more profound level, jogging is what humans have been doing for aeons. Jogging is what allowed us to either evade or hunt stronger and faster animals. We are enduring and persistent. How many animals can jog more than 10 kilometers (some of us, not me, can do it for a few hundreds)? There is something primordial about jogging, I think, that is deeply rooted in our entity. When we are out there pounding the ground, while consciousness is focusing on a purely physical endeavor, our reptilian brains take over, allowing our 'superior' neural networks to relax and attain a desired equilibrium, not unlike Archimedes when he took his legendary bath and shouted 'Eureka' (I don't care for baths personally, although Japanese hot springs are pretty nice).
Of course, on most days when I head out the door for jogging, I am mainly concerned about my physical health. But always remember that jogging will also benefit your psyche. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be healthy in the mind than in the body, and jogging takes care of both, so to me, it is the perfect friend to my desired long and healthy life.
2010/04/12
Morning Runs and Motivation
These days I usually go jogging in the morning. My work starts in the afternoon, and I find that jogging in the morning allows me to be more productive, as otherwise I often just stay in bed or do nothing constructive in front of the computer.
It was pretty hard to get motivated to go running this morning. Actually, it's the case on many mornings. And it's like that for most people, including olympians. We are not the only ones who would rather stay in bed some days. But successful people dig within themselves and motivate themselves to a goal, and there is no reason why anyone can't do it.
What got me motivated this morning, actually, was this blog. Here I am, pretentious and all, writing about something I don't even excel at, telling people to do something that is challenging. If I can't get my oversized rear end out of bed for a run, I'd be the biggest hypocrite out there.
And as is usually the case, once outside my earlier resistance quickly vanished, and I felt good jogging. The switch happened rather quickly this morning, just as the second song on my music player was finishing, and the first song is very short, just an intro really (DJ Champion's Resistance if you care to know). Before the run, I had decided not to go very long today, just a warm up for a possibly longer outing tomorrow or Thursday. And because I could find my rhythm so quickly, I decided to up the tempo and go for a speed run (well, fast for me).
I took a different course from usual. I have several routes I often take, sometimes with little variations, and this morning I followed the general direction of a regular 6 or 10k course, but took different streets and ran along a bicycle path I never use. In the beginning, there was quite a bit of traffic next to it, so the air wasn't that good, but as it is long, straight and flat, it worked out good for my intense training objective. I then prolonged the course wanting a chance to maybe meet my wife on her way to work (her office is very near our place). In then end, according to mapmyrun.com, I ran just over 7k.
I sweated profusely because of my harder-than-usual efforts, but also because I was wearing a fleece, which proved perhaps too warm in these spring temperatures. I thought it might be too much before the run, but for some reason I didn't feel like wearing a light jacket. This had the positive outcome that like a boxer in training, it helped me burn some fat.
All in all, the run felt great, even if before I hard a time getting out there. And honestly speaking, it's almost like that, for me at least. It's hard to get going, but once I'm on trail, I usually enjoy it. And this is as true when I go jogging in the morning like today, or when I bring my running gear to work and run back home.
It was pretty hard to get motivated to go running this morning. Actually, it's the case on many mornings. And it's like that for most people, including olympians. We are not the only ones who would rather stay in bed some days. But successful people dig within themselves and motivate themselves to a goal, and there is no reason why anyone can't do it.
What got me motivated this morning, actually, was this blog. Here I am, pretentious and all, writing about something I don't even excel at, telling people to do something that is challenging. If I can't get my oversized rear end out of bed for a run, I'd be the biggest hypocrite out there.
And as is usually the case, once outside my earlier resistance quickly vanished, and I felt good jogging. The switch happened rather quickly this morning, just as the second song on my music player was finishing, and the first song is very short, just an intro really (DJ Champion's Resistance if you care to know). Before the run, I had decided not to go very long today, just a warm up for a possibly longer outing tomorrow or Thursday. And because I could find my rhythm so quickly, I decided to up the tempo and go for a speed run (well, fast for me).
I took a different course from usual. I have several routes I often take, sometimes with little variations, and this morning I followed the general direction of a regular 6 or 10k course, but took different streets and ran along a bicycle path I never use. In the beginning, there was quite a bit of traffic next to it, so the air wasn't that good, but as it is long, straight and flat, it worked out good for my intense training objective. I then prolonged the course wanting a chance to maybe meet my wife on her way to work (her office is very near our place). In then end, according to mapmyrun.com, I ran just over 7k.
I sweated profusely because of my harder-than-usual efforts, but also because I was wearing a fleece, which proved perhaps too warm in these spring temperatures. I thought it might be too much before the run, but for some reason I didn't feel like wearing a light jacket. This had the positive outcome that like a boxer in training, it helped me burn some fat.
All in all, the run felt great, even if before I hard a time getting out there. And honestly speaking, it's almost like that, for me at least. It's hard to get going, but once I'm on trail, I usually enjoy it. And this is as true when I go jogging in the morning like today, or when I bring my running gear to work and run back home.
2010/04/10
If Stu chews shoes, should Stu choose the shoes he chews?
I don't know the answer to this tongue twister. However, one thing I do know is the importance of selecting the correct shoe for jogging. Of course you can run in any shoes, but running shoes are designed for the kind of impact related to jogging, offer proper cushioning and are lighter than multisports.
I remember buying my first pairs of jogging shoes. It was early March in 2002, just before joining the Nagoya H3 St-Patrick's run (I remember because I had to drink beer from them)! At that time I didn't know anything about shoes, and after trying out a few pairs, I was lucky to select a model that worked out well for me. At the time, I had decided that since I was in Japan, it'd be good to buy a local brand. The only Japanese company I knew was Mizuno, and for many years, I continued to buy those because they fitted my feet well. But a few years ago, I guess when I started running more, all of a sudden the new models didn't feel comfortable and I since switched to Asics. Whether you prefer Saucony, Puma, Reebok or any other brand, they are all good and I couldn't say that one is better than the other, it's just a matter of preference.
What I do suggest is for you to go to a store that specializes in running to buy the shoes, especially for your first pair. Yes, it might be a little more expensive, although check out for last year's models, shoes don't evolve very much, no matter what the ads might say. In a running store, you will find qualified sales people who can guide you through your purchase. Where we spend our money is one of our last remaining power in society, and by buying in a running store, you are most likely supporting people who actually enjoy running, and often staff are serious amateurs who will appreciate your support. Proper running stores often have a foot scanner to check out your foot shape. Whether you have low, average or high arches, they can recommend the best fit. Prior to going, you can also take the wet test to know your basic shape. Do try different pairs, especially across brands, to find the shoe that feels best. They should feel comfortable from the get go. As with other shoes, they will stretch a little as you break them in. Remember to wear sport socks when going.
Personally, I don't go cheap with the shoes I buy, even if I'm not such a serious runner. As shoes last me over a year, the cost on a weekly or monthly basis is quite small. Think about how much you spend on restaurants, fashion, comic books, CDs, cosmetics and other non-essentials (but enjoyable!) per year and the price of good pair of shoes becomes not very relevant. On top it, they'll make you feel good and perhaps even motivate you to go out jogging. But for your first pair, I suggest not spending too much, because let's face it, many people who start running don't keep at it.
The good news is that shoes are really the only equipment you actually need to go jogging. Compared to gym subscriptions, snowboard or golf, jogging is one of the cheapest sport. Yes, over the years I have acquired other equipment such as tights (a present and I don't always wear them), backpack with water bladder (useful on longer trail runs to also carry my camera), pedometer (used twice), running socks (can't notice any real difference), but really, the only equipment I really need are the shoes. All the other stuff is not essential.
And this simplicity is one of the things I enjoy the most about jogging. Anywhere (countryside, Saipan, Korea, Montreal) and any time [hangover mornings (like this morning), after work, between classes], if I have my shoes with me, I am ready to go. Unlike swimming pools, the streets and trails are never closed for the night or for holidays, and I can go whenever and wherever I want. And that, to me, is true freedom.
I remember buying my first pairs of jogging shoes. It was early March in 2002, just before joining the Nagoya H3 St-Patrick's run (I remember because I had to drink beer from them)! At that time I didn't know anything about shoes, and after trying out a few pairs, I was lucky to select a model that worked out well for me. At the time, I had decided that since I was in Japan, it'd be good to buy a local brand. The only Japanese company I knew was Mizuno, and for many years, I continued to buy those because they fitted my feet well. But a few years ago, I guess when I started running more, all of a sudden the new models didn't feel comfortable and I since switched to Asics. Whether you prefer Saucony, Puma, Reebok or any other brand, they are all good and I couldn't say that one is better than the other, it's just a matter of preference.
What I do suggest is for you to go to a store that specializes in running to buy the shoes, especially for your first pair. Yes, it might be a little more expensive, although check out for last year's models, shoes don't evolve very much, no matter what the ads might say. In a running store, you will find qualified sales people who can guide you through your purchase. Where we spend our money is one of our last remaining power in society, and by buying in a running store, you are most likely supporting people who actually enjoy running, and often staff are serious amateurs who will appreciate your support. Proper running stores often have a foot scanner to check out your foot shape. Whether you have low, average or high arches, they can recommend the best fit. Prior to going, you can also take the wet test to know your basic shape. Do try different pairs, especially across brands, to find the shoe that feels best. They should feel comfortable from the get go. As with other shoes, they will stretch a little as you break them in. Remember to wear sport socks when going.
Personally, I don't go cheap with the shoes I buy, even if I'm not such a serious runner. As shoes last me over a year, the cost on a weekly or monthly basis is quite small. Think about how much you spend on restaurants, fashion, comic books, CDs, cosmetics and other non-essentials (but enjoyable!) per year and the price of good pair of shoes becomes not very relevant. On top it, they'll make you feel good and perhaps even motivate you to go out jogging. But for your first pair, I suggest not spending too much, because let's face it, many people who start running don't keep at it.
The good news is that shoes are really the only equipment you actually need to go jogging. Compared to gym subscriptions, snowboard or golf, jogging is one of the cheapest sport. Yes, over the years I have acquired other equipment such as tights (a present and I don't always wear them), backpack with water bladder (useful on longer trail runs to also carry my camera), pedometer (used twice), running socks (can't notice any real difference), but really, the only equipment I really need are the shoes. All the other stuff is not essential.
And this simplicity is one of the things I enjoy the most about jogging. Anywhere (countryside, Saipan, Korea, Montreal) and any time [hangover mornings (like this morning), after work, between classes], if I have my shoes with me, I am ready to go. Unlike swimming pools, the streets and trails are never closed for the night or for holidays, and I can go whenever and wherever I want. And that, to me, is true freedom.
2010/04/08
Congratulations!
Wow! Only my second post, but already I'm congratulating someone. Indeed my friend Simon, the inspiration for this blog, went out for his first jog yesterday. Way to go! He wrote:
I ran... the whole... thing. It was very hard for me. For most of you reading this it would probably be easy, but for me it was pretty (bleep) straining. This is why I hate you. But I hate you with love, so we're good.
I'm not going to lie to you; if, like him, you have not jogged, or worse, exercised much for a long time, the first few times are going to be hard. But then, no one said it would be easy. However, unless you were born with some specific handicap or had a serious injury, anyone can do it, you included.
So get out there and go for your first, second or 1,000th jog, you body and mind will be thankful down the road.
I ran... the whole... thing. It was very hard for me. For most of you reading this it would probably be easy, but for me it was pretty (bleep) straining. This is why I hate you. But I hate you with love, so we're good.
I'm not going to lie to you; if, like him, you have not jogged, or worse, exercised much for a long time, the first few times are going to be hard. But then, no one said it would be easy. However, unless you were born with some specific handicap or had a serious injury, anyone can do it, you included.
So get out there and go for your first, second or 1,000th jog, you body and mind will be thankful down the road.
2010/04/06
Welcome!
Welcome to my new blog dedicated to jogging. The idea came when an old friend mentioned that he was interested in picking up jogging to get back in shape. Instead of just sending him some e-mails, I thought that a blog might help others as well to start running.
In some elitist racist circles (racist is in the rat race), some make the distinction between jogging and running, the later deemed like a more serious endeavor. But who cares if it is more serious or not? If you know me, you will understand that I do not care much for such snobbish opinions. In this blog, I will use the terms jog and run intermittently, although run will often have a more serious connotation to it.
My goal with this blog is help motivate anyone interested in jogging, whether it is at a turtle or hare pace. Especially, the focus will be on those who are new to it and are looking for advice and motivation. On the purely technical side, I will not be much of help, as I am not a qualified trainer, nor an experienced expert. But I have been jogging for over eight years, and I wish to share with you some of the things I have learned on trail, from experienced friends, on the internet and from other sources. I will supplement my entries with links to others sites that are more serious about it than I.
I remember my first 'run', held on December 31, 2001. Then, I joined my uncle in Hong Kong on a Hash run. What is hashing? Well, follow the link to find out, but note that it is no way related to illegal drugs. Instead it refers to hashed food. But regardless, although no illegal drugs are involved, members do follow a trail to an often unspecified location where coolers of legal beer await! Needless to say, as an unfit dude back in the day (and I'm not that fit now), I did not enjoy the running much, but knowing that beer waited for me at the end proved to be good enough motivation to go on.
In the beginning, I only ran once a month, as the closest group only met at that frequency. And truth be told, I did not enjoy the running so much, although, as I was new to Japan, the trails always proved interesting since we went anywhere and everywhere, allowing me to discover the country a little more. But every time I went, my slow jogging and walking ratio increased. And then one day, much to my surprise, I finished the trail first, thanks in great part to luck at the last few checks.
Before long, I started jogging once in a while just on my own. When I moved to Osaka in 2003, where a local club was running every week, my running regimen increased. Still, I was far from a strong nor fast runner (and I am certainly not fast now!), but running every week did increase my stamina, and I even surprised myself at running on my own on top of the 1 or 2 runs I would do with the Hash every week.
Then, in 2006, a Hasher friend told me about an event that would take place the next year in 2005. The inaugural Oxfam Trailwalker Japan would be held the next May, and my curiosity was piqued. The Trailwalker is a 100km event in which teams of 4 must complete a course, after having amassed funds for Oxfam. I wondered if I could ever do such a thing. I talked about it with my Hasher friend Yuriko 'Wanda', who enjoys ultramarathons. She thought that with training I could probably do it, and with that, we decided to go on a longish hike (about 30km) in the mountains to get a taste of what it could be like. After completing it, I realized that I was not in such bad shape, and that indeed, with training, I could probably finish it. The rest, they say, is history (well, my story).
Training for the Trailwalker, I even tried to run a full marathon, but got beaten by the unseasonably warm weather; I missed the 30.6km cut-off time by less than a minute. But two month later at the Trailwalker, my team, composed of Hashers, not only walked-jogged the 100km event, but we rallied the finish line in 25hr 48min, 17th overall and 3rd in the mixed team category! I felt so good! It was unbelievable. I joined the event again in 2008, and I try to run the Kyoto Sanjurokumine Mountain Race (30km) every December (I missed it last year due to injury).
But these racist endeavor aside, I mostly jog, slowly, to keep in shape. Not only does it help with my physical shape, but I find that it helps my mental well-being as well. I will have entries on these specific topics in the future, but for now, let me just say that jogging sometimes allows me to relieve some stress, empty my mind, find inspiration (for work and photography), and think up of one plan or another, just like this blog. Working up the courage to put on my jogging shoes on cold rainy mornings or hot and muggy evenings after work also builds up my mental strength. I think jogging is a great lesson in life that we all can take advantage of.
With that, I hope you will enjoy these entries as they come and go. The next entry will deal with the only important equipment you will need, a pair of jogging shoes. For those new to the activity, it can be confusing choosing the correct footwear, and I will guide you through it.
In some elitist racist circles (racist is in the rat race), some make the distinction between jogging and running, the later deemed like a more serious endeavor. But who cares if it is more serious or not? If you know me, you will understand that I do not care much for such snobbish opinions. In this blog, I will use the terms jog and run intermittently, although run will often have a more serious connotation to it.
My goal with this blog is help motivate anyone interested in jogging, whether it is at a turtle or hare pace. Especially, the focus will be on those who are new to it and are looking for advice and motivation. On the purely technical side, I will not be much of help, as I am not a qualified trainer, nor an experienced expert. But I have been jogging for over eight years, and I wish to share with you some of the things I have learned on trail, from experienced friends, on the internet and from other sources. I will supplement my entries with links to others sites that are more serious about it than I.
I remember my first 'run', held on December 31, 2001. Then, I joined my uncle in Hong Kong on a Hash run. What is hashing? Well, follow the link to find out, but note that it is no way related to illegal drugs. Instead it refers to hashed food. But regardless, although no illegal drugs are involved, members do follow a trail to an often unspecified location where coolers of legal beer await! Needless to say, as an unfit dude back in the day (and I'm not that fit now), I did not enjoy the running much, but knowing that beer waited for me at the end proved to be good enough motivation to go on.
In the beginning, I only ran once a month, as the closest group only met at that frequency. And truth be told, I did not enjoy the running so much, although, as I was new to Japan, the trails always proved interesting since we went anywhere and everywhere, allowing me to discover the country a little more. But every time I went, my slow jogging and walking ratio increased. And then one day, much to my surprise, I finished the trail first, thanks in great part to luck at the last few checks.
Before long, I started jogging once in a while just on my own. When I moved to Osaka in 2003, where a local club was running every week, my running regimen increased. Still, I was far from a strong nor fast runner (and I am certainly not fast now!), but running every week did increase my stamina, and I even surprised myself at running on my own on top of the 1 or 2 runs I would do with the Hash every week.
Then, in 2006, a Hasher friend told me about an event that would take place the next year in 2005. The inaugural Oxfam Trailwalker Japan would be held the next May, and my curiosity was piqued. The Trailwalker is a 100km event in which teams of 4 must complete a course, after having amassed funds for Oxfam. I wondered if I could ever do such a thing. I talked about it with my Hasher friend Yuriko 'Wanda', who enjoys ultramarathons. She thought that with training I could probably do it, and with that, we decided to go on a longish hike (about 30km) in the mountains to get a taste of what it could be like. After completing it, I realized that I was not in such bad shape, and that indeed, with training, I could probably finish it. The rest, they say, is history (well, my story).
Training for the Trailwalker, I even tried to run a full marathon, but got beaten by the unseasonably warm weather; I missed the 30.6km cut-off time by less than a minute. But two month later at the Trailwalker, my team, composed of Hashers, not only walked-jogged the 100km event, but we rallied the finish line in 25hr 48min, 17th overall and 3rd in the mixed team category! I felt so good! It was unbelievable. I joined the event again in 2008, and I try to run the Kyoto Sanjurokumine Mountain Race (30km) every December (I missed it last year due to injury).
But these racist endeavor aside, I mostly jog, slowly, to keep in shape. Not only does it help with my physical shape, but I find that it helps my mental well-being as well. I will have entries on these specific topics in the future, but for now, let me just say that jogging sometimes allows me to relieve some stress, empty my mind, find inspiration (for work and photography), and think up of one plan or another, just like this blog. Working up the courage to put on my jogging shoes on cold rainy mornings or hot and muggy evenings after work also builds up my mental strength. I think jogging is a great lesson in life that we all can take advantage of.
With that, I hope you will enjoy these entries as they come and go. The next entry will deal with the only important equipment you will need, a pair of jogging shoes. For those new to the activity, it can be confusing choosing the correct footwear, and I will guide you through it.
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